The document summarizes a presentation given by Alessandro Alasia to the Rural Development Network on August 12, 2010 about the Canadian Rural Research Network (CRRN). It provides an overview of the CRRN's vision to facilitate rural research collaboration online, its development since 2009 including establishing an online presence and growing participation, and its achievements in compiling and sharing rural research information through its blog and social media platforms. It also discusses the CRRN's emerging research network model and priorities for continued expansion and involvement.

1. Canadian Rural Research Network
(CRRN)
http://rural-research-network.blogspot.com/
Alessandro Alasia
Network coordinator
Presentation to the Rural Development Network (RDN)
Thursday, August 12, 2010
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm (EST)
August 12, 2010 1

2. Outline
• CRRN vision, development, and accomplishments
• An emerging research network model?
• Various sections of the CRRN blog and the other
social media tools
• Priorities for the coming year
• How individuals and organizations can become
involved with the CRRN
August 12, 2010 2

3. CRRN vision
A vibrant, free and comprehensive on-line
community of rural research stakeholders
that facilitates links, exchanges, partnerships
and information sharing among all parties
interested in rural research by means of new
and innovative networking approaches
August 12, 2010 3

4. CRRN development
• June 2009, the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF) supports
a proposal to revitalize the network (as Canadian Rural Research Network)
with a renewed mandate and networking model
– June 2009, the CRRN blog is launched
– August 2009, first bi-monthly email update is sent out
– September/December 2009, a management committee is established
– December 2009, first online meeting of the management committee
– January/February 2010, established presence on social media
(Facebook, Twitter, YouTube)
– March 2010, first presentation of the CRRN at the BCRRHRN Scientific
Exchange
– May 2010, first annual meeting of the CRRN partners
– June 201, started LinkedIn Group
– July…. summer break…
August 12, 2010 4

5. Achievements
• Over 30 provincial and national organizations
with an interest in rural research meet around a
virtual table
• A volunteer management group spread across
Canada maintains the network
• A large number of feedback from a community
of users
August 12, 2010 5

6. Achievements
• Established a simple-to-use platform to compile
and disseminate rural research information
– Stats on usage over the past 15 months:
• Close to 10,000 unique visitors
• Close to 25,000 page loads
• Recently, between 20 and 30 visitors per day
• Email distribution list of about 3,500 contacts, largely in the
public (fed/prov/municipal) and non-profit sector
• Presence on major social media (LinkedIn,
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) and RSS feeds
August 12, 2010 6

7. An emerging research network model?
• Three ideas (with some simplifications) that can shape
an emerging research network model which brings
together supply and demand of rural research:
– The Wickinomics (of research information sharing)
• (Tapscott and Williams 2006)
– The Socialnomics (of research information sharing)
• (Qualman 2009)
– The world (of rural research) is flat
• (Friedman 2005)
August 12, 2010 7

8. Wikinomics, Socialnomics and research networks
• Shift in Internet applications (Web 2.0): from a publishing environment to a
participative environment
• People are getting more relevant, timely and free content from their
peers via social media (Qualman 2009)
• Cost of (online) collaboration has plunged
• A new mode of production emerges: peer production
– A way of producing goods/services that relies on self-organizing, egalitarian
communities of individuals who come together voluntarily to produce a shared
outcome (Tapscott and Williams 2006)
• Peer production works for production of: (1) “information” outputs; (2) small
increment contributions are possible; (3) low cost of re-assembly parts
• Peer production can outperform traditional production models because
people self-select for tasks
August 12, 2010 8

9. The (rural research) world is flat
• Several technological forces have converged and
generated a global, Web-enabled playing field that
allows for multiple forms of collaboration regardless of
distance and (soon) language (Friedman 2005)
• “Globalization 3.0” is about individuals and small groups
globalizing
• A flat rural research world is open for exploration.
Our research community should be at the cutting edge of
this exploration (because we know why and how
distance still matters!)
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26. … more work is needed …
• Get all partners more involved with CRRN activities
– “Posting guidelines” draft
– The blog can have up to 100 authors (currently about 20)
• Expand interactive applications and opportunities for
users’ interaction
– Promote the use of and participation to CRRN social media
(LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, RuralTube
– … a wiki? Other?
• Promote the use of CRRN applications within specific
groups (graduate students, professionals, public sector)
• Develop simple rules for the operation of the network as
the network grows and expands
August 12, 2010 26

27. How to get involved
• Take the lead! Share and/or develop your
ideas and/or make suggestions for
improvements
• Email: crrn@bell.net
• Email the management team (see web page)
• Join the management team (see web page)
– conference call meetings every second month
August 12, 2010 27

28. Thank you for your attention
--
Questions / feedbacks
August 12, 2010 28